Table 2. Potential for each market sector of payment for ecosystem services to benefit low-income households and communities in developing countries within the next two decades.†

Buyer

Ecosystem service

Public sector

Private, regulated

Private, voluntary

Consumers of eco-certified products

Biodiversity conservation

XX

XXX

XX

XXX

Watershed protection

XXXX

XX

XX

X

Carbon

X

XXXX

XXX

X

Landscape beauty or recreation

XX

0

XXX

X

†These are not predictions, but rather estimates of the number of low-income people that each market sector could benefit if the identified actions necessary to shape payment for ecosystem services to benefit low-income stakeholders are largely successful.
XXXX – Tens of millions of low-income providers could benefit.
XXX – Millions of low-income providers could benefit.
XX – Hundreds of thousands of low-income providers could benefit.
X – Fewer than 100,000 low-income providers are likely to benefit.
0 – The sector is unlikely to develop or will affect only a few low-income providers.